Within the Christian community, we often hear the term "social gospel."  Bascially, it's an effort to use Christian principles to reform society.  It's nothing new.  For example, the abolitionists of the American Civil War era were advancing a social gospel as they fought the institution of slavery.  In our day, many pastors and churches are involved in fighting poverty and racial injustice.  That's also the social gospel.  What could be wrong with that?  Nothing, that is, as long as the focus is still on our Lord Jesus and the salvation that He brings.  

Pete and Jen Emery serve as missionaries with Extreme Response International in Ecuador.  They minister to a group of people who scrounge through a garbage dump in order to survive.  On today's Footsteps, Pete puts the social gospel into it's proper perspective when he says, "For us, the first thing we want to do is ... change they way they live ... their house, where they work, and we lose focus on what's really important.  It's a change of heart."  I totally agree with Pete.  The Gospel is all about Jesus and the everlasting salvation that He purchased for us by His death on the cross.  If we fail to share that message with others, then we've failed to share the true Good News.

Click here to learn more about Pete and Jen Emery's work in Ecuador

Click here to listen to Footsteps' Latest Program

Click here to visit Footsteps

(Photo of Jen and Pete Emery)